Doctor Who Autograph Faker Jailed

The man responsible for selling forged autographs of Doctor Who stars has been sentenced to time behind bars.

According to a report from BBC News, Norfolk resident Andrew Sullivan has received a 21 month stay in prison. The sentence was handed down by the Norwich Crown Court. Sullivan pleaded guilty back in September.

From 2009 to 2011, Sullivan forged 3,500 autographs and fake certificates of authenticity. Selling them primarily on eBay, he earned a cool £35,000 during that same time period. The fakes were of many Who stars (270 of Tenth Doctor, David Tennant, alone!), as well as celebrities from other sci-fi programs.

The whole situation is rather disconcerting; as an autograph collector myself, I would be appalled and full of rage had I been found a victim of this scheme. Indeed, prosecutor David Wilson stated that “the commission of these offences undermines the trust in this market and those who legitimately operate in it.” A true statement, as this occurrence my cause collectors to think twice before purchasing an autograph from eBay or other online marketplace.

What do you think? Will this keep you from buying autographs online? Do you think Sullivan’s 21 month sentence is enough?

“That’s bacon! Are you trying to poison me?”
And from that line on, I’ve been unable to stop watching, reading, musing about the Doctor. As a recent transplant to the Whoniverse, I’ve been trying to soak up as much Who-related knowledge as possible. That journey has taken me from the Tenth Planet to the Fields of Trenzalore and gently set me at the edge of my seat for what’s next. It’s an honor to be here and I plan to bring a unique perspective. I hope you’ll enjoy the journey alongside me.